eastwood



Dec. 22, 1936. H. B. EASTWOOD GLASSWARE LEER CONSTRUCTION 1 .gv w \M N m W ,GRN\Q\ MM a s Z 9Q fl 1% W 1 Original Filed Dec. 2. 1933 Winess: 7

Dec. 22, 1936. H. B. EASTWOOD GLASSWARE LEER CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 2, 195:5

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Reissued Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Hartford-Empire Company, Hart! ord, Coma,

a corporation of Delaware Original No. 1,997,250, .Aprll 9, 1935, Serial No.

700,648, December .2, 1933. Application for reissue June 12, 1936, Serial No. 84,913

"24 Claims. ,(ci. 49-41) I This invention relates to glassware annealing leers and particularly to the construction of such leers especially of portions adjacent to the hot end thereof.

The novel constructions forming the subject matter of my present invention are particularly applicable to the leer shown and described in the copending application of Wadman, Serial No.

441,793, filed April 5, 1930, now Patent No. 1,974,058, granted September 18, 1934, although, of course, they are also useful in other relations as will be obvious as the description proceeds.

Among the objects of my present invention are to provide means for supporting wall forming members of the inner tunnel in the more highly heated portions of a leer at least and in a manner such as toprovide free floating movement permitting expansion and contraction under the influence of the heat in the leer. In this way buckling of the parts whiciimight be caused due to relative expansion thereof is prevented.

A further object of, my present invention is to provide for a leer of the character above set forth, or for other types of leers to which the construction is applicable, means permitting the independent removal for replacement, or repair, of

wall-forming members of the tunnel without the necessity of completely tearing down such portions of the leer, and more particularly without the necessity of the shutting down of the leer as a whole except for a short period of time, thus economizing in heat and also in the time required for making repairs.

A further object of my invention is to provide practical means and arrangements for constructing leers of the type generally set forth in the Wadman patent above referred to, and other somewhat similar types, in a manner which will be relatively permanent, yet easily repairable.

Other objects and advantages of my present invention will become apparent from a. reading of the following description and appended claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1- is a fragmentary view principally in vertical'longitudinal section of the ware-entering end of a glassware annealing leer of the type disclosed in the Wadman patent above referred to but constructed according to my present inven tion;

Fig. 2 is a transverse view in vertical section Referring to the drawings wherein I have shown one embodiment of my invention, there is illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 a portion of the. entrance end of a continuous glassware annealing leer comprising an inner tunnel gen- 5 erally indicated at i and an outer casing generally indicated at 2, the space therebetween with the exception of the space occupied by the supporting means for the inner tunnel hereinafter to be described being substantially filled with, 1'0

loose insulating material indicated at a. ware-1s" moved through the leer upon a belt 4 of openwork reticulated wire mesh of the usual construction now generally employed in continuous glassware annealing leers, the driving means for the belt not being shown in the accompanying drawings, but being understood to be of conventional design. The ware-bearing strand of the belt 4 passes through the tunnel in sliding contact with the bottom thereof while the return strand passes from the belt driving means to the entrance end of the tunnel beneath the same, as indicated, the. return strand being supported at intervals along the tunnel upon rollers as 5 and passing around rollers 6 and I adiacent to the entrance end of the tunnel.

The leer comprises an outer structural framework including longitudinally extending channel members 8 (Fig. 2) which are tied together at intervals along the leer by transversely extending structural members 9 (Fig. 1), these members being all'rigidly secured together. The structural frame work is supported at intervals along the leer upon frame structures III which carry casters I, so that the leer as a whole may be moved from place to place around the factory in which it is located, as may be desired.

The outer casing of the leer is preferably of relatively light sheet metal with only suflicient strength to hold in the loose insulating material 40 3, and is secured to and suitably supported by the structural framework previously described.

Extending between the longitudinal channel members [and transversely of the leer are a plurality of supporting channel members as It, I9, 20 and 2|. These members are mounted for vertical adjustment with respect to the channel members I by providing holes through the several members through which extend bolts 22 provided with nuts 23 on the underside of the members l8, I9, 20 and 2|. Thus by loosening the nuts 23 on the bolts 22, the respective members ll, l9, 2| and' 2| and similar members (not shown) along the other portions of the leer may be independently lowered from their operative positions as those shown in the drawings. Above each of the members l3, i3, 23 and 2| is a panlike member of sheet material, the upturned flanges I33 of which cooperate with 'correspond-' ing flanges |3| of portions of the outer casing 2 in preventing loss of the loose heat insulating material 3 when any of the members l3, I9, 23

- or 2| are vertically adjusted as above described.

The flanges I33 and |3| are so formed that they exert a resilient spring pressure against each other, thus keeping the joints substantially tight at all times.

Each of these transversely extending vertically adjustable members l3 to 2| carries piers of suitable refractory material having a requisite strength for supporting the inner tunnel and particularly the floor sections thereof as will be hereinafter described. these piers being indicated at 24, 23, 23 and 21, there being preferably several piers transversely of the leer as indicated in Fig. 2. Supported on these piers and extending transversely of the leer are T-shaped members as indicated at 23, 23, 33 and 3|, these members being her (not shown) directly support floor-forming member 34, these floor-forming members being free to move in all directions through a short distance and being floatingly supported, so as posi-' tively to prevent buckling or other undesired movement or bending upon the heating of the members or the leer during the operation of the latter. Within the floor-forming members 32, 33, 34, etc., are disposed electric heating elements 33 as shown, these elements being preferably of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,937,319, issued November 28, 1933. It is contemplated, however. that any suitable heating meansmay be used in connection with the floor forming members, or they may be unheated if desired.

The remainder of the inner tunnel comprises side wall members as indicated at 33 and 31 which are arranged in end to end relation, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, and in connection with which there is provision for relative expansive movement between these members, there being an expansion joint 33 therebetween at the ends thereof. This expansion joint is shown in detail at Fig. 3 and is formed by an extension member 33 rigidly secured to themember 33 and having a portion overlying the joint between the members 33 and 31 so as to prevent ingress of any of the'loose insulating material 3 into the tunnel. The member 33 is also provided with a flange por- The lower flanges of tion 43 through which one or more bolts 4| extend, these bolts also passing through the flange -42 formed integral or rigid with the side member 31 and being provided with nuts as shown. The bolts 4| pass freely through the flange 43 so as to-permit the members 33 and 31 to expand toward each other upon the heating of the leer. The side members 33 on each side of the leer are preferably rigidly secured to the front end structure, as illustrated in Fig. 1, this front end structure being rigid with the outer structural framework of the leer as shown. The side members 33, 31, etc., are tied together at intervals longitudinally of the leer by transversely extending r-shaped members as 43 and 44 secured to these side members as by bolts or otherwise. Suflicient space is provided between the flanges of T-shaped members 43 and 23, and 44 and 33respectively so as to permit of the free floating movement of the bottom sections 32 and 33. I

The members 31 are tied together at their lower edges adjacent to the oint 33 by a transversely extending member or casting 43 which may be fllled with suitable insulating material 43asillustrated. This member 43 is rigidly secured to the members 31 on each side of the leer. The lower end of the extension member 33 at the-joint 33 has a portion 43 (Fig. 1) extending over the bottom flange portion of the member 31 and thus indirectly supports the side member 33 upon the member 43 sothat should the member 33 be moved downwardly forrernoval, as will be here-' inafter set forth, the side members 36 will remain adequately supported in "position. member 43 is loosely supported on the flanges of T-shaped members 33 and 3|.

From the description thus far given, it will be seen that the sides and bottom members of the inner tunnel I are all rigidly supported from the outer rigid supporting structure while permitting free expansive movement of any of the floor forming members as 32, 33, 34, and permitting the lowering of these members sufllcient to permit independent removal thereof without dis-v turbing other parts of the leer.

The side members 33 and 31 are tied together at their upper edges by transversely extending T-shaped members 41, 43, 49, 33, etc., these members being rigidly secured to the'side members as are the members 43-44. Supported upon the flanges of the members 41, 43, 49; 33

are a plurality of hollow roof forming members 3|, 32, 33, etc., which may be similar in con-' struction to the hollow floor forming members 32, 33, 34, etc. These roof forming members similarly are adapted to contain heating elements 34, preferably of the same type as the heating members 33, above referred to. The

members 3|, '32, 33 etc., are similarly arranged for floating suppol t upon the flanges of the T- shaped members 41, 43. 43, 33, etc. Suitable sheet metal protectors illustrated at 33, 33, 31

and 33 may be provided to prevent the loose heatinsulating material 3 from penetrating down between the members 3|, 32, .33 and their supporting means.

Means are provided in the construction shown for passing a temperature controlling medium, in this case atmospheric air, through the floor and roof-forming members. As shown, such means compriseone or more pipe sections 33 communicating between the atmosphere beneath the leer and the interior of the floor forming member 32, this pipe having two elbows in it, as shown, and being supported upon a supporting member 33 principally of insulating material as indicated. Specifically this supporting member comprises a refractory block set in a metallic cup at its lower end and having at its upper end a metallic receptacle open in both directions longitudinally of the leer, the purpose of this construction being the same as that particularly thereof will be given except to point out that e the construction permits ofrelative expansive movement of the parts in a'direction longitudinally of the leer.

isofaoa the supporting member 63 and extending freely through the bottom casing which confines the insulating material 3 and through the member l3. Beneath the member l3 and spaced therefrom is a bracket member 62 and serving to confine between it and the center flange of the member [8 a nut 83 threaded on the bolt 5!. Thus by rotating the nut 63 upon the bolt 6 l, the member 60 may be vertically adjusted to cause a vertical adjustive movement of the pipe 59 with respect to the supporting member l3 and hence with respect to the floor section 32 supported thereby, as seen in Fig. 1 The pipe 59 has a free sliding fit in a vertical direction with the floorsection 32, so that when the member 53 is lowered, this pipe-may be freely moved out of the floor section to permit lateral movement of the latter.

I also provide communicating between the interiors of the floor sections 32 and 33 one or more pipe members 64 supported upon one or more members 65 respectively similarly mounted shown) commonly employed in connection with modern leers The pipe member 55 is as shown supported upon a member'69 which is vertically adjustably supported from the member 20 in the same way as themember 60 is supported from the member l8. As shown in Fig. 2, there may betwo, or even more, parallel pipes as 64 extending to and' from any of the hollow floor sections 32-33, etc., for conducting temperature controlling media thereto and therefrom, these members being provided with independent supports as clearly illustrated.

Associated with the hollow roof forming sec tions 5|, 52, 53, etc., I have provided a similar series of duct means for temperature controlling media, including one or more inlet pipes 13, one or more pipes ll communicating between the interiors of the members 5| and 52, and one or more outlet pipes 12, these pipes all having a diding flt in a vertical direction with their, associated floor or roof-forming sections so as to permit their relative movement and thus permit of the lateral removal of the floor or root forming sections. v

In removing the roof-forming sections, it is usually simpler to take apart portions of the outer casing 2 o! the roof and remove the loose insulating material 3 than to provide means as shown, and hereinafter to be described, for permitting lateral removal of these sections without dislocating otherparts of the leer and without removing the loose insulating material.

Means are provided for preventing undue lateral displacement of the floating floor and roof-forming sections, such means comprising bolts passing through flanges of the side panels or sections as 36 and 31, the ends of which are loosely received in recesses'i'ormed in the floor and roof-forming sections as best illustrated at the upper right hand corner of the inner tunnel in Fig. 2 wherein the bolt 13 is shown passing through the horizontal flange of the side panel 36 and extending into a recess I4 formed in the lower right hand corner of the roof-forming section 52. It will be understood that all the floor and roof -forming sections are'similarly prevented from undue lateral displacement while in their normal inoperative position. The means described'and illustrated for this purpose are of such character as to permit any normal expansive movement of the floor and roof-forming sections under the influence of the heat to which the respective parts are subject during the opersulating blocks 13 and H to a space within the 1 hood member 18 and thence downwardly as at 13 to a junction box 80 wherein suitable electrical contacts may be made with the supply lines for the electric current.

If it is desired to remove the heating element assembly alone for replacement of such element,

this may be done once the current is turned off, first by the swinging upward of the hood member 13 which is hingedly secured in position, as-a't 8 i then by the disconnection of the vertical leads I9 from the horizontal leads 15, then by the removal of the block 15 exposing the nuts 32 on the ends of the bolts 33. These nuts are then removed and the .block I1 removed along bolts 33. The heating element, 35 may then be withdrawn for repair and/or. a new one substituted therefor and the parts re-assembled.

If, however, it is necessary to remove the entire floor-forming section as 33, the disassembly is accomplished as previously set forth with the single exception that the heating element 35 neednot be removed from the interior of the hollow floor-forming section 33 unless it is desired to do so. The first step in removing'this section is to lower the supporting members 65 by rotating the nuts 3| upon the bolts 35, thus lowering the supporting members 55 and the connecting-pipes 54, so that their upper ends are out of contact with and below the lowersuri'ace of the member 33. The pipes 58 are then similarly lowered by rotating the nuts 36, Fig. l, to lower the supporting members 69 and thus lower the pipes 66 out I or contact with the floor-forming section 33'. This action is normally permitted due to the fact that the loose insulating material 3 isof such compressible nature that it normally aflords no obstacle in the way of the movements described. I The floor-forming section 33 may then be bodily lowered by lowering the transverse members I! and 23 with respect to the outer rigid supporting structure by unscrewing the nuts 23 of those transverse members with respect to their bolts 22. This accomplishes a bodily lowering of both the member 33 and of the associated air conducting pipes 64 and 66 without relative movement between this section 33 and these pipes, here again the movement being permitted due to the compressible character of the insulating material 3. The lowering of the section 33 need only take place to such an extent that the lower. ends of the transverse locating bolts similar to the bolts 13 are clear .of the section 33 and also so as to take 01! any frictional resistance due to the weight of the belt 4 upon the upper surface, of the section 33. If these bolts are not used, the section might of the floor of.the tunnel is retained in place by.-

therefractory blocks 89 and 90 which are supported as shown upon angle members carried by the outer casing and by the flanges at the lower edges of the side plates 36 of the inner tunnel. This entire operation may be accomplished in a very short time, sometimes not more than 15 minutes, so that it is not necessary to interrupt the operation of the leer for any material time if, and when, it becomes necessary to replace one of. the floor-forming sections of the leer.

It may further be mentioned, that due to the fact that the transverse member 45 is rigidly secured to the side plates 31 and is supported upon the T-shaped member 3| carried by the piers 21, there. will be no movement of this member even though the piers 28 be lowered so that no parts of the leer, other than those described, will -be interfered with.

The assembly of the parts may be accomplished by a reverse series of operations exactly as has been explained for the removal of the floorforming section, as will be obvious from a reading of the foregoing description and a consideratlon of the accompanying drawings.

From the construction shown, it will be seen that any of the floor-forming sections may be removed from the leer in substantially the same way as that particularly described for section II, it being contemplated that all the floor-forming sections in the hotter portions of the leer will be similarly supported to permit their ready removal while at the same time these sections are floatingly supported while at their respective opera-,

tive positions.

, The arrangements and connections for the electric heating elements 54 of the upper or roofforming sections are clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 andwill be obvious from that figure. when compared with the foregoing description of the arbe construed as broadly rangements and connections for the floor-forming sections and the heating elements 35' therein.

By the foregoing provisions, I have provided a leer construction which is eminently practical as has been proven in actual commercial operation an in which the various portions of'the inner tun el which are subject to the greatest heat are fioatingly supported as opposed to the rigid construction of the prior art, thus tending to prevent undue buckling, warping or other undesired consequences during the operation of the leer.

I am aware that many changes may be made in the construction of glassware annealing leers without departing from the spirit of my invention and I, therefore, wish this invention to be measured solely by the appended claims which are'to as the state of the prior art permits. I g

I claim:

1. In a glass annealing leer, including an outer tunnel composed of insulating material and a structural framework, an inner tunnel including wall-forming portion of hollow constructionto form a passage for a gaseous temperature con- ..f'orming section of hollow metallic construction,

unattached either to other portions of. said inner tunnel or to said framework, and freeto expand and move when heated, said section forming an enclosed passage for the passage of gaseous temperature controlling medium, an electric heating element within said hollow section, and guide brackets-loosely receiving and supporting said hollow section to retain it substantially in a predetermined position to form a part of said inner tunnel while permitting expansive self-positioning movement thereof under the influence of the heat supplied by said electric heating element and the heat of the glassware in the leer.

3. A tunnel type glassware annealing leer, com

prising an outer structural framework, an inner tunnel supported from said framework and separated at least in part therefrom by insulating material, said inner tunnel including a wallforming section-of hollow metallic construction,

unattached either to other portions of saiddnner tunnel or to said framework and free to expand and move when heated, and means to conduct gaseous temperature controlling media to and fromsaid hollow section, said conducting means having sliding joints with said hollow section, whereby to permit of relative movement between said conducting means and said section.

4. A tunnel type glassware annealing leer, comprising an outer structural framework, an inner tunnel supported from said framework and separated at least in part therefrom by insulating material, said inner tunnel including a wall-forming section' of hollow construction, unattached either to other portions of said inner tunnel or to said framework and free to expand and move when heated, means for generating heat within said hollow wall-forming section, and means for floatingly supporting said section in substantially a predetermined position to form a part of said inner tunnel, the last named means including bracket guide members extending transversely of theleer and loosely receiving and supporting said hollow section, and stop means for preventing undue movement of said hollow section in a direction transverse of the leer along said guide members said guide members and said stop means being so constructed and arranged as to permit of any movement of said section which might occur :ipon it being heated during the operation of the eer.

, 5. A tunnel type glassware anneali; g leer, comprising an outer structural framework, an inner tunnel supported from said framework and separated at least in part therefrom by insulating material, said inner tunnel including a plurality of floor sections, each of which is unattached to other portions of said inner tunnel, to each other,

1 or to said framework, and is free independently to expand and move when heated, and supporting means for said-floor sections including piers of high heat insulating material supported by said I 20,209 piers and loowy receiving said floor sections,

section which is removablyassociated with the other portions of said inner tunnel, means for supporting said floor section from said framework, and means removable to provide an opening through the insulation of said leer substantially of the size and shape of the cross sectional dimensions of said section, whereby said section may be laterally removed through said opening without substantially disturbing other portions of the deer whenever such removal-is necessary for replacement or repair.

'7. A tunnel type glassware annealing leer, comprising an outer structural framework, an inner tunnel supportedfrom said framework and separated at least in part therefrom by insulating material, said inner 'tunnel includinga floor section which is removably'associated with the other portions of said inner tunnel, means verticallyadiustable with respect to said framework for supporting said-section therefrom and constructed and arranged to'proyide for a lowering movement of said section from its operative position, and meansremovable to provide an opening through the insulationof said leer and substan-- tially of the size and shape of the cross sectional dimensions of said section, whereby said section may be lowered from its operative position sufflciently to permit its being moved laterally and thereafter may be removed laterally through said opening without substantially disturbing other portions of'the leer whenever it is necessary to which is removably associated with the other portions of said inner. tunnel, means adjustable vertically with respect to said framework for supporting said section therefrom and constructed and arranged to provide for a lowering movement of said section from its operative position, and means removable to provide an opening extending from atleast one sidelof said leer to one end of said section and substantially of the 1 size and shape of the cross sectional'dimensions of said section whereby said section may be lowered from its operative position sufficiently to permit its being moved laterally and thereafter may be ,removed laterally through said opening, the lowering means and the removable opening-providing means being so constructed and arranged that said section may be removed as aforesaid without disturbing and without the prior removal of any substantial amount of said loose insulating material. F

9. A tunnel type glassware annealing leer, comprising an outer rigid structural framework, an

. inner tunnel and an outer casing both S ported from said framework, the space between said inner tunnel and said outer casing being substantially filled, except for thesupporting means for the inner tunnel, with loose heat insulating material, said inner tunnel including a floor section which is removably associated with the other portions of the inner tunnel, a transversgy extending supporting member vertically adiustably supported from said framework, at least one pier of insulating material supported upon said transleast'one side of said leer to said section and substantially of the size and shape of the cross sectional dimensions of said floor section, whereby said section may be lowered from its operative position sufficiently to permit its ,being moved laterally and thereafter may-be moved laterally through said opening, the lowering means and the removable opening-providing means being so constructed and arranged that saidfloor section may be removed as aforesaid without materially disturbing and without the prior removal of any substantial amount of said loose heat insulating material.

10. A tunnel type glassware annealing leer, 30

comprising" an outer structural framework, an inner tunnel supported from said framework and separated at least in part therefrom by insulating material, said inner tunnel including a floor section which is removably associated with the other portions of said inner tunnel, supporting means spaced longitudinally of the tunnel for supporting said floor section'irom said framework at at least two longitudinally 'spaced points, means mounting said supporting means for vertical adjustment with respectto said framework, whereby said floor section may be raised "and lowered to and from its operative position, and means removable to provide an opening through the insulation at' least 'at one side of said leer and substantially of the sizeand shape of the cross sectional dimensions .of said floor section, whereby said section may be lowered from its operative position sufflciently to permit its being moved laterally and thereafter may be' moved laterally through said opening without disturbing other portions of the leer whenever it is necessary tofremove this section for replacement or repair. J

11. A tunnel type glassware annealing leer, comprising anouter structural framework, an outer casing and inner tunnel both supported from said framework, said inner tunnel being separated at least in part fromsaid structural framework and said outer casing by insulating material, said inner tunnel including a plurality of floor sections each independently removably supported from said framework without disturbing the remainder of the inner tunnel, said inner tunnel further including a pluralityof side wall sections arranged in end to end relation to each other and having expansion joints therebetween, means for supporting said side wall sections and the inner tunnel from said outer structural framework including transversely extending members adjacent to each joint between contiguous side wall sections, said transversely extending members being rigidly secured to one of said contiguous side wall sections at either end thereof, the others of said contiguous side wall sections havmeans removable to provide an opening from at so sions of their repective floor sections, whereby ing longitudinally extending portions extending over and adapted to be supported by said-transversely extending members" respectively, and at least two means for independently supporting each of said transversely extending members from said outer structural framework, whereby the side wall sections and the inner tunnel portions other than the floor sections thereof may be supported from said structural framework independently of any one of said floor sections and thus permit the removal of any one of the latter without disturbing the remainder of the inner I tunnel.

- tural framework independent of any one of the" 12. A tunnel type glassware annealing leer, comprising an outer structural framework,,an innertunnel supported from said framework and separated at least in part therefrom by insulatingmaterial, said inner tunnel including a plurality of independently movable floor sections, means including piers vertically adjustable with respect to and supported, by said outer structural framework for supporting adjacent ends of said floor sections in'a direction longitudinally of the leer, means individual to each of said floor sections and removably located in at least one lateral side of the leer to provide an opening through the insulation at such side of the for permitting the removal each of said floor'sections respectively, sald openings being substantially of the size and shape of the cross'sectional dimeneach floor section may be lowered from its operative position sufficiently to permit its being moved laterally and thereafter may be moved laterally through its respective opening without disturbing other portions of the leer whenever-it is necessary to remove the section for replacement or repair, said inner tunnel further including a plurality of side members arranged in end to endrelation, transversely extending members supported from said outer structural framework in a manner similar to the support forsaid floor sections and arranged to form a portion of the floor of the leer substantially complementary to said' floor sections, said transverselyv extending members being each rigidly secured at its ends to one of said wall sections of the' inner tunnel adjacent to a joint between that and a contiguous wall section, overlapping flange members on one of eachpair of contiguous wall sections and arranged to be supported from the transversely extending member which is respectively rigid with the others of each of said pairs of contiguous wall sections, whereby the side walls of the inner tunnel will be supported from said outer strucremovable floor sections of the inner tunnel thus permitting the removal of any one of the latter for purposes of replacement or repair.

13. A tunnel type glassware annealing leer, comprising an outer structural framework, an inner tunnel pporte'd from said framework and separated at least in part therefrom by insulating material, said inner tunnel including a hollow floor section which is removably associated with other portions of said inner tunnel, means vertically adjustable with respect to saidframework for supporting said section therefrom and con structed and arranged to provide an adjustivelowering movement of said framework from its operative position, means to conduct gaseous temperature-controlling media to and from said hollow floor section, said conducting means having sliding iolnts with said hollow section to permit tion from its operative position, and means refloor section said conducting means may be first 10 lowered out of engagement therewith, said floor section and said conducting means may then be lowered together sufficiently to permit the floor section being moved laterally through said opening and said floor section may thereafter be re-- moved laterally through said opening without disturbing other portions of the leer whenever it is necessary to remove said section for replacement or' repair.

14. A tunnel.type glassware annealing leer, comprising an outer structural framework, an inner tunnel supported from said framework and separatedat least in part therefrom by insulating material, said inner tunnel including a floor section which is unattached either to the other portions of said inner tunnel or to said framework andwhich is free to expand andmove under the influence of heat upon the operation of the leer, said floor section being further removably associated with other portions of said inner tunnel, 10 means vertically adjustable with respect. to said r framework for supporting said floor section therefrom and constructed and arranged to provide for an adjustive lowering movement of said seca movable to provide an opening through the insulation at least at one side of saidleer and substantially of the size and shape of the cross sec .tional dimensions of said section, wherebysaid section is floatingly supported while at its operative position and may be lowered therefrom sufil-.

ciently to permit its being moved laterally through said opening'without disturbing other" portions of the leerwhenever it is'necessary to remove said section for replacement or repair.

15. A tunnel type glassware annealing leer, comprising an outer structural framework, an

- outer casing and inner tunnel both supported from said framework, said inner tunnel including a floor section of hollow construction, unattached either to said other portions of said inner tunnel or to said framework andfree to expand and move w en heated, means for supplying heat to the inside of said inner tunnel from the interior of said hollow floor section by conduction through the common wall of said section and said inner tunneLthe space between said inner tunnel and said outercasing being substantially filled, except for the supporting means for the inner tunnel, by loose heat' insulating material, means vertically adJustablewith respect to said framework for floatingly supporting said floor section therefrom and constructed and arranged to provide for an adjustive lowering movement of said floor section from its operativeposition, and means removable to provide an opening extending from at least one side of said leer to one end of said section and substantially of the size and shape means and removable opening-providing means being so constructed and arranged that said section may be removed as aforesaid without materially disturbing and without the prior removal of any substantial amount of said loose heatinsulating material.

16. A tunnel type glassware annealing leer, comprising an outer structural framework, an inner tunnel supported from said framework and separated at least in part therefrom by insulating material, said inner tunnel including a floorforming section of hollow construction, unattached either to, other portions of said tunnel or to saidframework and floatingly supported to permitit to expand and move when heated, means to conduct temperature controlling media to and from said hollow-floor-forming section, said conducting means having sliding joints with said hollow section to permit a relative movement between said conducting means and said section, means adjustable ,vertically with respect said framework-sud supported thereby for supporting said section therefrom and constructed and arranged to provide for the lo w'ering movement of said section from its operativepdsition, other means for supporting said conducting means from said sectionsupporting means and arranged to provide-for vertical :adjustment between said conducting means and said floor-formingsection' sufllcient to permit of relativelateral movement therebetweemand'means to provide an opening through the insulation at least at one side of said leer and substantially of the size and shape of the cross-sectional dimensions of said section, whereby said section may be removed from its operative position in said inner tunnel first by relatively moving said conducting means downward out of contacttherewith, second by adjustably lowering said section and said conducting means as .a unit with respect to the remainder of the leer, and third byslaterally removing said section through said opening. I

1'7. A tunnel type glassware annealing leer, comprising an outer structural framework, an inner tunnel supported from said framework and separated at least in part therefrom by insulating material, said inner tunnel including a floor section of hollow metallic construction unattached either to other portions of said inner tunnel or to said framework and free to expand and move when heated, an electric heated element removfloor section, said conducting means having vertically sliding joints with said floor section to permit of relative movement therebetween,

- means supported by and vertically adjustable with respect to said framework for supporting'said floor section therefrom and constructed and arranged to provide for a lowering movement from said floor section from its operative position, other means for independently vertically supporting said conducting means from ,and for movement with respect to the floor section supporting means to provide fora relative movement therebetween, and means removable to provide an opening through the insulation at least from one side of the leer to said floor section and substantially of the size and shape of the cross sectional dimensions of said floor section, whereby said electric heating element may be laterally removed from said floor section through said opening, and whereby said section may be bodily re'' moved from the leer for adjustment and repair by first relatively moving said conducting means with respect to said floor section to permit of I ing the floor section to be removed with respect relative lateral movement therebetw'een, secondby lowering said floor sectionand said conducting means as a unit to permit of the lateral movement of the former with respect to other portions of the leer, and third by laterally removing said floor section bodily through said opening.

18. A" tunnel type glassware annealing leer, comprising an outer structural framework; an outer casing and an inner tunnel both supported from said framework, the space' between said in- ,ner tunnel and said outer casing being substantially filled, except for the supporting means of the innertunnel, with loose heat-insulating material, said innertunnel including a plurality of independently removable floor sections of hollow construction, an electric heating element within each of said floor sections, conducting means associated with each of said floor sections for passing cooling air therethrough when desired, said conducting means having vertically sliding joints with said hollow floor sections, transversely extending members supported by and independently vertically adjustable,,with respect to said outer structural framework, piers supported by said transversely extending members each supporting hen in their respectiveoperative positions, said inner tunnel also including a plurality of side members arranged inend-to-end relation, and having expansion joints therebetweemtransverse --supporting members for saidside membersar'- ranged to be supported by said T-shaped members and each rigidly connected at one end to one of apair of said side members adjacent to the expansion joints between the pair of side members,- an extended flange-like member rigidly secured to the other side member of each pair at each joint arranged' to prevent the loose heat-insulating material from penetratingto the interior of the inner tunnel irrespective of expansion and contraction of the side members of the leer, said extension members being supported upon' the transversely extending members which support and are secure to the contiguous side membersoi' each pair, i ependent means for supporting said conducting means for vertical adjustment with respect to said floor sections and the supporting means therefor, and means removable to provide an opening through the insulation at one side of the leer adjacent toeach of said floor sections and substantially of the size and shape of the cross sectional dimensions of said floor sections respectively, whereby said heating elements may be laterally removed from their rewhereby when it is desired to remove one of the floor sections bodily, this'may be done through its respective opening without disturbing any material amount of the loose insulating material or requiring the removal thereof by first lowering said conducting means-with respect to the floor sections out of contact therewith, second, lowerto other portions of the leer to permit of its lateral movement without any relative movement between the floor section and the conducting means therefor, and third, laterally removing the floor section bodily through its respective openi s 19. In an annealing furnace of the continuous type, a heating chamber formed of a plurality of individual bottom, side and top sections, each of said top sections being freely movable with respect to and unattached to any other section, whereby any one of the top sections may expand or contract independently of the other sections. I

20. A leer of the continuous type having a central tunnel formed of a plurality of individual bottom, side and top sections, each bottom section forming a part of a passagel for gaseous temperature controlling media. and being unconnected and free to move independently of each other in the plane of the bottom of the tunnel.

21. In a leer of the continuous type including a source of heat, an inner tunnel formed of an outer tunnel composed of insulating material and a structural framework, an inner tunattached either to other portions of said inner tunnel or to said framework and free to expand and move when heated, and means for supplying heat to the interior of said hollow portions.

23. A glassware annealing leer, comprising a tunnel, means for passing glassware there through, said tunnel being formed in part by top and bottom hollow sections, each so constructed, arranged and mounted as to be movable independently of other portions of the leer, and means for causing temperature controlling mediato pass through'said top and bottom hollow sections to control the temperature within said tunnel.

24. A glassware annealing leer, comprising a plurality of top and bottom hollow sections in part defining a tunnel, means for passing glassware through the tunneL- each of said hollow sections being unattached to other portions of the leer and free to expand and move when heated, and means for supplying heat to the interior of said top and bottom sections and thereby to the ware passingv through the tunnel.

HAROLD B. EASTWOOD.

. nel having its top formed of hollow portions un-' 

